Talleyrand

tal'li-rand (1754-1838), a French statesman and diplomat. He was a native of Paris. His father was a man of rank and an officer in the French army. Young Talleyrand, as well as his family, would have preferred a military career; but, on account of lameness, he was educated for the church. Although a notorious profligate, he rose through family influence from one church position to another to be Bishop of Autun. In the early days of the French Revolution, he was elected a delegate to represent the clerical interests. Perceiving that the notion would be popular, he was foremost in proposing the confiscation of church property by the state. He undertook also to ordain a national clergy. For this he was excommunicated by the pope. The Revolutionary leaders sent him to London on a diplomatic mission, but, finding that he was corresponding with the king's party, an edict was passed banishing him from France. In 1794, the English government refusing to afford him further protection, he spent a year in the United States. In 1796 he returned to Paris.

Talleyrand had the discernment to foresee the rising fortunes of Napoleon and attached himself to that brilliant young officer. He took a leading part in the shaping of events in Napoleon's favor. The latter made him his confidential minister of foreign affairs. Talleyrand showed no little skill in forming coalitions, especially the Confederation of the Rhine, and in carrying out his master's wish to place the members of the Bonaparte family on thrones. Later, whether Talleyrand foresaw Napoleon's downfall or not, he certainly quarreled with him with reference to the invasion of Spain and the famous invasion of Russia which resulted in the disastrous retreat from Moscow. From this time on, he was Napoleon's most active enemy. As plenipotentiary of France he sat with Metternich in the Congress of Vienna which banished Napoleon to Elba. He was active in the restoration of the Bourbons. He was minister of foreign affairs under Louis XVIII, and was ambassador to London from 1830 to 1834. In the reign of Louis Philippe Talleyrand fell into disrepute and lived unnoticed. He was a friend of the famous Madame de Stael. He left a fortune of $3,500,000 to a niece.

Talleyrand was a brilliant, tactful, unscrupulous, farseeing intriguer. It was his favorite motto in diplomacy that words could be used to conceal intentions. He is credited with the expression "the beginning of the end." For three decades he was the foremost diplomatic figure in Europe. In private life he was without doubt one of the most notoriously profligate scamps ever connected with the French court.

See Bismarck; Metternich